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Germany and Soviet Union invade Poland, WWII begins

Definition

The invasion of Poland marked the start of World War II. It was carried out by Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent in September 1939. The invasion marked the beginning of a global war that lasted until 1945.

Analogy

Imagine two bullies in a schoolyard deciding to take over another kid's playground. They both attack from different sides, leaving no chance for the kid to defend himself. This is similar to how Germany and Soviet Union invaded Poland from different directions.

Related terms

Blitzkrieg: A method of warfare where an attacking force spearheaded by a dense concentration of armoured and motorized infantry formations with close air support breaks through enemy defensive lines.

Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact: A neutrality pact between Nazi Germany and Soviet Union signed in Moscow on August 23, 1939.

Holocaust: The systematic genocide of about six million European Jews during World War II by Nazi Germany.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.